LAS VEGAS — An Oct. 8 trial date has been established for two Nevada men charged with damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
A federal indictment has accused Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, of one count each of injury and depredation of government property, along with aiding and abetting. The U.S. Department of Justice indicated that if convicted, both men could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The two residents of Henderson were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and made their first court appearance, where they pleaded not guilty and were released on personal recognizance.
According to authorities, Fain and Cosper allegedly pushed rock formations over a cliff edge at Redstone Dunes Trail in Lake Mead on April 7, causing damages exceeding $1,000.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located just outside of Las Vegas, attracts approximately 6 million visitors annually and covers 2,344 square miles (6,071 square kilometers) of diverse mountainous and desert landscapes.
Officials noted that due to staffing levels, park authorities often depend on the public to help monitor the natural resources within the park boundaries.
